Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. A.N. So, things keep happening I didn't plan for... XD
Sam isn't sure if Jack will agree to his request. He's pretty certain that Benny will not come back unless he gets to explain how it was his fault, and possibly even why. Not that he looks forward to it, but the vampire deserves it. Dean should have his friend back.
He shouldn't have lost him in the first place, but Sam was weak and selfish, twice over, and - well. Just one in a too long list of regrets. But with the chance of setting right so many losses, if some grovelling makes the big day - and life afterwards - better for Dean? It's such a tiny price to pay.
So he waits, wondering. Waiting seems to be all they can do about Dean's wedding at the moment anyway. For a reply from the barn owner, people to come back to them, or... Maybe he should research something. Anything. It'd take his mind off things, but he isn't sure what he should pick, or if Dean'll want his input about this or that at all.
... Fuck it. He's going to read ASOIAF instead of stressing. Might even let an idea or two seep into his brain...though the weddings there tend to see the groom dying in short order, if not during the celebrations, so. Not as inspirational as they might be.
But nobody's plotting against Dean. By now, pretty much anyone who might have considered it at one point knows better than that. Killing oneself is definitely easier than sending Cas and him on the warpath. So no, he doesn't have to worry. There'll be no poison, no ambush, no Daeva-alike (he wonders sometimes if Martin stumbled on a legit lore book). Just Dean, Cas, and as many friends and family as they can get to come cheering them on, because they're finally happy.
A day later, Sam almost jumps out of his skin when he gets a text...from Jack. For some reason, the idea of god having a phone - and using it - feels weirder than...honestly, he didn't know what he expected. Another apparition out of the blue? Visions?
"What is it?" Dean asks, because of course he does.
"Nothing, just...something stupid. Didn't expect it. You know what? Clearly I need some air. Staying in to refresh my mail and scroll through idiotic videos isn't working for me. " He gets up, is already halfway up the stairs, because when God summons you, you go. Actually, Jack is still so polite, ending his text with an "if you want", and this is a favor to him in the first place, but. That's all the more reason not to dilly dally.
"Sure you're okay?" his brother calls after him.
"Sure." Sam turns around, gives Dean a grin. He's not certain it'll be enough to reassure his brother, but he has to try.
Jack is at the door. Sam worries for half a second that Cas will sense him, but the quicker they are, the less risk there is. So instead he smiles at the kid (it doesn't matter how many powers Jack obtains or loses, he'll always be his kid, at least a little) and thanks him.
"I'm curious," Jack says, and - it's not like there was ever a chance of hiding what would be said, but Sam's stomach still twists. Jack probably knows...some of it, at least. Sam would be very shocked to learn he had never read any of Chuck's drafts. Still.
The boy snaps his fingers, and they're back in Purgatory. And a minute later, Sam hears a voice he knows.
"What the fuck, can't you and your brother stick to human-suited dimensions? What is it this time?"
"Well, I would, but I needed to speak to you, so. Actually, Jack, can you make sure we're not interrupted?"
"Sure" Jack grins up at him, takes a step aside and waves a hand. Probably more for show than anything else.
"Man, no offense, but the kid looks like he'll need backup stat rather than being..." Benny shrugs.
Sam smiles, and lets how proud he is of Jack show. "Well, he's the new God. I'm pretty sure he can handle whoever you pissed off for ten minutes. Or ten eons, even, but I don't have that long anyway, so. I was hoping to keep this on the short side."
Benny gapes for a second, staring at Jack. Then turns around to Sam, sighs, and asks, "What's up with Dean?"
It's good to know that, even with God literally there, Benny has no doubt there's only one person, entity or other that Sam would go to him for.
"Good news. Brilliant, even. He's getting married." He grins.
"To the angel?" Benny guesses.
"As if there was ever another option. Anyway, huh, this is your official invitation to their wedding. And as you see, we'll have an even easier time than ever getting you out." He nods towards Jack, who remained aside. Obviously listening in, but not taking the reins.
Benny opens his mouth, but before he can answer, Sam stops him with a raised hand. "There's something else you should know before deciding."
"Let me guess: don't." Benny glares at him.
Sam's hand ends up in his own hair, embarrassment winning. No wonder this is the vampire's assumption.
"No, I... actually meant to apologise. But seriously, brother? You couldn't call Dean...darling, or something?"
Benny huffs a laugh. "Your brother? You really really still want me dead."
"Sounds like it, but I actually don't. In fact, I huh - what I'm trying to say is, I was wrong and shouldn't have tried to keep you apart. Well, succeeded, actually." He looks down because - he fucked up, and he knows it, and Benny should be furious at him for that, but... this is about Dean. Making sure Dean has what he deserves.
"I knew," is all Benny says, voice now flat. "Well, figured."
"In my..." he doesn't actually say defense, because he was indefensible, and he knows. "Anyway, God wanted us - Dean and I - to kill one another."
Benny throws a shocked look at Jack, still quiet and smiling on the side.
"Not that God, there's been a change...you will have a lot of catching up to do, I'm afraid. We didn't know that back then, of course, but he actually came closer than I could stand to getting his way. I'd lost Dean for so long, and then he was back, and angry at me, and of course he had his reasons, but. There you are, brothering him like you have the right, and I..." he sighs deeply. Here goes nothing. "I acted like a starved bitch with a bone – come close and see what that gets you ! – instead of a human being. A human being who should have been grateful to you, may I add. I guess with the rift between us...I tried to overcorrect the course. Maybe Dean has a point that I shouldn't drive." He chuckles.
"So, was this the long way to say you won't kill me if I accept that invitation?" Benny asks, and he's smiling, and why isn't he acting more angry?
"That's actually the long way to say that if you accept that invitation...you could, you know, stay in contact after. With Dean. And, well, if you want, with me. I'd like a chance to be what I should have been to start with, if it didn't feel like you'd boot me out of my place at his side if I didn't fight back."
"And Dean said you were the smart one," Benny retorts, but there's no fire in it. "That was never in the plans. I spent a year with Dean. I already knew way better, believe me."
Sam can't help it. He grins at the reassurance. Maybe, in a different universe, where everyone uses their words a lot more, he and Benny would have hit it off from the start. The vampire brought Dean back to him. If Sam hadn't needed to worry that he planned to keep his brother, he would have done pretty much anything to repay him. "Good to know."
"We're going back so long as I find Dean another nickname then?" Benny asks.
"Nah. We're going back period. Dean would worry about the change, and I don't want him anymore stressed than he absolutely has to be. I'll get used to it." He shrugs. It might take a little while - or even a lot, not that he'll say a word about it - but nobody's pushing them to be at each other's throats anymore. Benny's just a friend. Dean's, and maybe, in the far future, if he can behave, even his. There's no reason to snarl and plan anyone's murder.
Jack came close right then. If there was ever a doubt that he was listening intently to every single word, it just vanished. Then again, Jack knows he can fuck up and act in ways he'll regret later. Especially when Dean is involved (and when isn't he). Any toddler-like idolization of a parent (and Sam's still so glad and a little shocked that he made the cut, when Jack picked his set) has vanished...if not before (and maybe it did), for sure when the boy became God.
But he doesn't look disappointed in Sam. He still has that sweet smile of his, and asks, "So, are we ready to go then? Will you be part of my gift?"
Benny frowns for a second, so Jack elaborates. "My wedding gift to Dean is reviving as many people he loves as will agree."
"Am I expected to wear a bow?" Benny asks.
Jack chuckles. "No."
"Well then, let's get moving."
Jack offers one hand to each of them, and between one blink and the next, they're back in front of the bunker.
"Where are we?" Benny asks.
Oh, right. They found it after Sam had made Dean cut ties with his new favorite monster. He shrugs. "We got a home base now...inherited it, actually."
Before he can explain further, the door slams open, and Dean's there, slightly wild eyed. "What the fuck, Sam, you..."
"Hey, brother," Benny interrupts the tirade that's undoubtedly coming.
"Hello," Jack chimes in, grinning.
"Surprise?" Sam smiles himself, wide and dimpled, hoping it'll help him be forgiven for whatever has Dean in such a state.
"Oh. Well, come in!" his brother says, taking a step back to let them in.
Castiel is in the war room, too, and welcomes them with a loud, happy, "Jack!" and goes to hug him.
"A dude resurrects, and it doesn't even warrant a hello these days?" Benny huffs.
"Sorry, but we were expecting you. Didn't think I'd see him again so soon," Cas replies.
"Expected, huh? Before the wedding, even?" Benny says.
"Not really," Dean admits. "By the way, no more surprises," he almost growls, rounding up on Sam. "You were so sketchy, and we couldn't track you..."
Sam isn't even surprised that Dean's first instinct was trying his GPS. He thought they'd be back quickly enough to avoid any reprimand, but Dean will probably overreact when his baby brother's being sketchy until his final death, or the universe's. ( Sam's plans about alien guests are very much standing).
"Sorry," he replies, suitably contrite. "Tell me you didn't -"
"I didn't call Rowena, but it was a near thing. If your signal hadn't come back - "
"Breathe, brother." That's actually Benny. "He was being nice, and besides, I'm pretty sure he can handle himself."
That stops Dean in his tracks, again. "Nice? To you?" Like he can't imagine it.
Sam throws him a quick bitchface, because really? He can behave better than Dean, most days. And with the right motivation.
"Sure. A proper lamb. Almost wondered if a shifter took that shape, but it would have been useless as a trap, and scary isn't what he was going for, so. It'd have been a weird pick, is all I'm saying."
"I'm really, really happy you're here, Benny." Dean grins, and that's all Sam wanted to see. "Thanks, Jack," he continues, turning to the boy.
"No need yet. Several more to come." Jack, who'd been communing with Cas - perhaps telepathically - replies, with the proud little smile of when he's done something right and made them happy.
"Yeah, about that...I'm far from complaining, but why start with Benny?"
"He was the only one that Sam wanted to talk to; thought that I'd get it out of the way to leave him free to help you out." Not that he expected Jack to lie, but Sam can't help but wince.
"That was your idea, not his?" Dean asks, nodding towards Jack. Annoyed again.
"Benny had said no to coming back once already. I had to make at least an attempt to change his mind."
"See? He's sweet. Leave him alone. Well, either that or he wants to make sure you're properly embarrassed, like any sibling should." Benny's grin is teasing.
"What?" Dean's growliness fades, surprise taking its place.
"You invited me to your wedding, brother. I can't keep all the juicy details to myself, can I?"
"There are none,"Dean declares, crossing his arms... unconvincing in the extreme.
"Oh, I dunno. It depends on how you classify things, I guess. Should we get everyone else to be the judge of that? I mean, apparently we got God himself here," Benny retorts.
"Shut up!" Dean barks.
"Right, right. Assuming he'll be there...telling the same jokes over and over gets old quickly. Fine. I'll keep them for the big day."
"Seriously, Benny, there's nothing..." Dean insists.
Then Cas derails him entirely by dropping a kiss on the back of his neck. "Oh, I don't know," he rumbles. "I might want to hear it, for one."
Dean blushes - which is not his normal reaction, but normally he doesn't have freshly resurrected friends around - and Sam is damn tempted to make a joke about how cute he is, but with his brother's mood earlier, he has enough self-preservation not to. Maybe sometime in the future. Just because he wants his brother happy, it doesn't mean he's entirely going to stop teasing him.
Then Jack chimes in. "Huh, auntie reminded me we're supposed to be kinda busy, so... have to say goodbye, and remember, just call anytime!"
A round of thankful hugs, and they let him go. Well, let. Not like they could stop him from disappearing, but by the kid's smile, he enjoys them as much as they do.
"I should really leave you to your fun," Benny comments, and Sam's actually surprised. Then he notices how Cas is back to crowding Dean, and...okay, Someone who isn't used to it might take it as a gentle hint that they want to take things further in about ten seconds.
"Actually look for accomodations of my own. Very nice digs you got here, brother, but..." The vampire continues, ending with a shrug.
"We, huh, have a lot of extra room. And I mean a lot," Dean retorts.
"Mind you, you'll probably be pulled into wedding preparations too," Sam points out with a smile.
"Good thing I have nothing pressing on, then. I mean, if you are sure." The vampire's eyes dart around.
"Help is always welcome," Cas assures.
"Tour of the place with room choice included," Dean offers.
"I'm coming along, because you don't know half of what you should about the archives," Sam quips.
"I know enough to avoid them," Dean huffs.
"Archives? Exactly what did you inherit?"
"Ever heard about the Men of Letters?" Sam asks.
From Benny's shocked look, he has.